Season series: The teams meet for the second time in four days; St. Louis won 4-3 in a shootout Monday. Nashville won four of the six games last season (2-1 in shootout decisions) but finished five points behind St. Louis for the Central Division title. In those six meetings, the losing team did not score more than two goals, with 21 goals total scored in regulation.

Big story: Nashville and St. Louis play each other four times, and will have completed three of those by Feb. 5. The Blues lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Tuesday to trail them in the division. The Predators got their first win Tuesday, 3-1 over the Minnesota Wild and former teammate Ryan Suter, to keep pace in what looks like a three-team Central race.

Team scope:

Predators: Nashville had to go on the road to get its first win after losing its first two home games in shootouts to the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Blues. This is the second game in a seven-game, franchise-record-tying road trip that ends back in St. Louis on Feb. 5.

"The mood of the team is good; you get that first win under your belt is key," coach Barry Trotz told The Tennessean on Tuesday. "The first three games you get points in every game, that's a positive. Today's a day of rest and then tomorrow we'll go back at it again with the Blues."

Pekka Rinne should be back in net after Chris Mason backstopped the win over the Wild.

Blues: Vladimir Tarasenko did not score, and the Blues lost. That may be an exaggerated observation, but the Russian rookie had three goals and two assists in two wins prior to being held off the score sheet in a 3-2 loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Much of the Blues' production is coming from Tarasenko's line (Andy McDonald and Alexander Steen), with five of the team's 11 goals.

Jaroslav Halak could be back in net after starting the opener then getting pulled from game two. Brian Elliott started and fell behind 3-0 against Chicago, after trailing Nashville 3-2 Monday.

"As I told the players, comeback hockey is losing hockey," coach Ken Hitchcock said to the team's website after Tuesday's loss. "And you can't mount comebacks all the time and expect to win hockey games. We got away with one yesterday and we got caught on it today. ... We can't play this way and expect to win hockey games."

Defenseman Wade Redden, who last played in the NHL in April 11, 2010, was activated Wednesday and could make his Blues debut after signing with them this week.

Who's hot: Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has five assists, most among NHL defensemen after Tuesday's games. … The Blues' power play is clicking at 66.7 percent (6-for-9). … Forward Martin Erat (two goals) is the only Predators player with more than one. He has a point in all three games, and the team has a power-play goal in each. … Predators forward Nick Spaling had a goal and an assist against Minnesota. … Mason made 29 saves for a percentage of .967.

Injury report: Predators forward Paul Gaustad has missed the prior two games with an upper-body injury. Trotz told The Tennessean he could be back Saturday. … McDonald played Tuesday with a face guard after needing stitches for a facial cut suffered Monday.

It's been talked about at great lengths in various other threads, but the Blues have got to clean up their game tonight. Need to get back to Hitch hockey...Job #1 - Keep the puck out of your end...Job #2 - Make life miserable on every Pred that touches the puck....Job #3 - Score.

I don't mean to suggest that scoring is the 'least' important, they are all very important, but to me that will come if you do the other two jobs. To me we've looked like a fast break basketball team so far. All everyone is concerned about is rushing into the offensive end and scoring. Backcheck, Forechek, and drive the net.

I know it's cliche, but go out and 'work hard'. We were the hardest working team last year (not the most skilled) and it got us 109 points. We're healthier and more skilled this year...get back to that same level of work and who knows how good we can be.

I think a lot of this is guys getting comfortable with their line-mates and just getting back into to grind.

The important part is I don't think there's any lack of effort it's more like they're 'too excited'. Settle down, and play under control.

Clean it up boys!

Note 3 (2 PP, 1 empty netter)Pred 1 (in the third right after I mention something about getting $5 off at dirt cheap tomorrow)

That being said, another close game. Hitch chews enough people out to keep the train rolling, Vlad scores in the first 3 minutes followed by an AMac goal setup by Chris Stewart and DP scores the game-winner.

Hitchcock plans to go back to his original lineup against the Predators on Thursday at Scottrade. That means center Scott Nichol and rugged winger Ryan Reaves will be back in, while wingers Jamie Langenbrunner and Matt D'Agostini will come out. Vladimir Sobotka, who moved to center the fourth line against Chicago, will go back to a wing.

Meanwhile, Jaroslav Halak will get the start in goal. Halak was pulled in the second period of a 4-3 overtime-shootout win at Nashville on Monday. He allowed three goals on 11 shots before being replaced by Brian Elliott.

I'm willing to overlook some inconsistencies and poor play up until game six due to the short training camp and no preseason games.

So this is game #4.

After a stellar opening to the season against the Red Wings, they have gotten worse in each of the last two games. (one of which we won and the 2nd of which we had a chance to tie it up in the closing minutes)

This should be 2 pts though. We're at home...we just don't lose here. Plus we're the better team.

cardsfan04 wrote:While I don't disagree that we've looked progressively worse each game, there are a few things to consider.

-There was only one way to go after the domination of Detroit. It would have been pretty much impossible to look better.

-Games 2 and 3 were road games.

-The Chicago game was their home opener. They had a day off. We did not. We traveled the night before. They did not.

I mean, the players shouldn't be satisfied. But, it shouldn't be that surprising that we didn't look as good on shorter rest against better teams (than that shitty Detroit team) on the road.

I'll say this...I want this team to win the cup this year. I think they have a legitimate shot to do so.I expect performances like the one in Chicago to be few and far between, and the norm should be closer to how they played vs. Detroit. (maybe not quite at that high of a level, but close to it)As long as the game vs. Chicago can be chalked up to it being Chicago's home opener, the Hawks having extra rest, or it's early in the season still...fine. I can buy that.

But let's rebound from that poor game and start beating ass again. That's what this team is capable of, and that's what they need to do on a regular basis.

I have to admit that I really liked what I saw so far. ok curt is right the pre-season was extremely short, i don't how how many blues played in some other leagues though. if the blues can lower the number of mistakes, they should be able to beat everyone.

On the other side I don't like playing nashville at all, since somehow i always have the feeling that rinne stands on his head in every single game against the blues.